Mountain Trip

Some of our sweet friends in Nashville invited Justin, Collier and me to join them at their cabin in the mountains. We of course could not turn down such a fun and gracious invite. We haven't seen these friends in a few years and it was wonderful to reconnect and visit with them and their beautiful children. The cabin is in the Sunday School Assembly at Monteagle, TN. It is such a neat little community and looks like it would be loads of fun for the kids in the summer time. It was a beautiful day on Saturday and we couldn't have asked for a better time with such wonderful and loving friends!

Now, we prepare for our week of Thanksgiving! We all have so much to be thankful for, we are showered with blessings and our cup is certainly over flowing! I think about God and how thankful that I am for the relationship that He allows us to have with Him - that He sent His Son for our sake to this earth to live a perfect life and then to the cross for our sins! I am thankful
that He is always present and faithful, even when I have gone astray. I am thankful that He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. I love that He goes ahead and behind us! How He is my strength and that I can do all things through Him. I am thankful, I am unworthy, I am sinful and yet I am redeemed! Praise be to God for all that I have and for all that I am!

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.-Galatians 2:20

This is a cross on a point over looking the mountains at Sewanee

I'm looking forward to seeing our family and having the time to relax and visit! I wish you and your family a wonderful, fun and safe Thanksgiving!

Last Wednesday I woke up and started packing....I then jumped in the shower and it was a little cold but I was in a rush - Collier was in his bumbo watching Jack's Music show so I had to hurry. Well the water actually got colder instead of hot so it was an even quicker shower than planned. Justin was out of town (of course) and our hot water heater had rusted out the bottom! I called our handy man and he came to confirm all of that. This of course pushed my packed up ever so slightly..but 2 hours later Mom, Collier and me were on the road. Where was I headed...you may ask......

to

this

beautiful

peaceful

quite

perfect

relaxing

glimpse of heaven

Justin was working in the panhandle and was going to spend a few nights at the lake and we decided to join him! Well not working, but at least we got him at night. Yep, we left on Wednesday and stayed through Sunday! Perfect, did I mention it was quite and relaxing too! I couldn't have asked for more. The tree's have mostly turned to orange and when the sun sets in the evenings it really will take your breath away! The sun rises are pretty stink'n awesome too - but I would rather be in the bed at that time. Although I think two mornings I was up with one little stinker who has decided that waking up a few times at night/morning is fun.

Now, to that subject. I created the monster. Collier started not sleeping through the night about a month ago and it was because he had a little cold. Well, I decided I would feed him to see if that made him feel better. It usually did and he would go right back to sleep (fall asleep while eating). That's great that he goes right back to sleep, right? not when he gets up twice - usually around 12am or 1am and again around 4am. He is not starving, I've just created a bad habit. So now we're fixing that and he is crying it out! Not an easy task as a mom who wants to make her sweet baby happy. Last night he woke up around 1:30 and started kicking and chooing, which turned into crying and screaming around 1:50 and he finally gave in at 2:35. One hour, not to bad but in the middle of the moment it isn't fun or easy. I kept wanting to get up and just let him eat so that he would settle down and go back to sleep. I resisted and thought about how good it feels to sleep all night and I stayed my butt in the bed and prayed over and over that God would gently whisper and calm him down. I am prying that each night this week will be easier and easier.

Tomorrow I have a second interview with a company and I'm very excited about this opportunity. I would appreciate your prayers for very clear direction and if this is where I'm supposed to be to have the right words during the interview.

Here are a few more pictures from our fun lake weekend:

I've been meaning to post for the past several days and every time I sat down, I couldn't quite figure out what I was going to type...so I just didn't.

Justin was out of town all of last week - Annual Sales Meeting in Orlando. His sweet mom came to stay with me to keep me company see Collier. It is really so great to have a wonderful MIL. I can be honest with her and she loves that little boy to pieces (who wouldn't?). She is willing to leave her sweet husband to come and spend days with us, she moves around dentist appointment, hair appointments and travel arrangements to be here for us. I couldn't ask for more and I am so thankful that she was here this week with us! Thanks Mela for being here and for all of your help!

Wednesday we went Collier's 6 month check up. He is 16LB 14OZ and 27" Long. I really expected him to weight much more. Everything checked out perfectly and we're increasing our meals to three per day of solids instead of two. His newest foods have been carrots and pears last week. The doctor even told me he could have yogurt, so we're going to try this this week. He has been doing better but is still waking up during the night. Only one time the past several nights, which isn't too bad. But I really am ready for him to get back to sleeping through the nights. I do think that he is teething and I feel bad that he isn't feeling good...I just hate it for him. This morning when I was holding him at 5am....I was just looking at him and how sweet and peaceful he was laying in my arms fast asleep! My heart feels so complete with love over flowing in a way that I have never felt before. It brought a funny thought to mind. When I was in middle or high school (I can't remember exactly) I decided that I wanted a bird. We had two dogs and I wanted a pet that was all to myself and I knew that another dog would be out of the question. So, I decided on a bird. Mom said that I could get one and I remember her asking my why I wanted a bird and all I could think was because I wanted something that was mine to love wholly. That was one crazy bird and I did love it but I wanted it to give a complete love to me and it just isn't possible that a bird could do that (at the time I never would have understood that). I know that the whole and complete love comes from God himself. He is the only one that can fill up and over flow my love and joy. But looking at Collier in my arms this morning I felt that completeness and total satisfaction - I felt God's love and boy it is abundant!! I just love Collier to pieces and it is so satisfying to be able to care for him and provide for him. Gosh what a blessing!

Which sort of brings me to my next topic. My job. I've been home for the past 2 weeks and I am so thankful for this time that I've had with Collier. I love every minute of it and really God's timing couldn't have been more perfect (of course). With Collier not sleeping through the night and me not having to be at work, it hasn't been so bad at all. I am job searching! I have a few possibles but nothing concrete yet. Several times a day I think about it and will start to panic about what am I going to do and oh I need a job and how will a new job affect my time with Collier and will it be an environment that is pumping friendly. Then I have to hand it over to God and trust that He is in control. He already has a place specifically for me. I am trusting that He will provide for me and for our family through all of this. It is so easy to want to take control myself, but I don't want to (even though naturally I try to continuously) I really want to be where God wants me to be.

I can't believe that it is already November and before we know it Thanksgiving will have come and gone! I am trying to take in every minute of being home and especially as we approach the Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have so much to be thankful!

Our Halloween Weekend

Was so much fun. We started off Friday night with dinner with Mom and Dad. We cooked Butternut Squash Bisque. I've been thinking about Squash soup since summer time (we had it at a friends rehearsal dinner....about 5 years ago...recently!)and for some reason it popped into my head. I don't eat soups in the summer so I've been thrilled now that its gotten cooler and I've been searching for the right recipe. It was perfectly served with pork tenderloin and bread. Just right! Saturday we went to Mom and Dad's to watch football and carve our pumpkins....very late to do that this year, but we were glad to get them done. Justin always wants to do scary faces and I always want happy faces! We really liked how they turned out! Justin and Dad boiled a HUGE pot of peanuts and built a fire in the outside fire pit. Collier really enjoyed watching the flames in the fire - he would stare at them as they moved and popped around. Collier the puppy arrived after dinner and was so stink'n cute (if I can say so myself). I think I took a million pictures but I'll spare you and just show a few of my favorites!

Today, we have tried to be lazy, but the weather was beautiful and it was calling us to come outside! After little man got in a good nap we enjoyed lunch on the front porch - Brink was thrilled that Collier was eating on her level. She decided she would try and help with clean up! Then we decided to go to the park and it was just perfect. He really liked the swing, it took him a few minutes to figure out his balance but once he did he really liked it. He was all cozy and situated and could have probably fallen asleep!

It was a fabulous and fun and busy weekend.

Collier is still waking up during the night...last night we were up 4 times again! YIKES. I am praying that tonight will be a little better. Justin's mom is coming to spend a few days with us and we're very excited about her visit with us this week!

I'll continue to ask for prayer for God's clear guidance with my job. And of course that sweet baby Collier would feel better soon. I would really appreciate it. Happy 1st of November!

6 MONTHS

and growing way too fast! Sweet Baby Collier is 6 months today and I am beside myself. He is such a sweet baby. We go to the doctor next week so I'll have official stats to post then. But he is basically sitting up on his own, only with a few tumbles from time to time. He could careless about rolling over but reaches for everything. If he can see it he will stretch and reach for it as hard as he can - which means throwing all of his weight in that direction. He giggles and talks a lot....talking (cooing) more and more in the past week.

Although the past few days have been tough. He hasn't been sleeping through the night...Wednesday night he was up 4 times! And he has been a bit stuffy/runny nose which has resulted in him being slight more fussy. Plus the drooling has started and I assume that this is the beginning of our teething process. Poor little booger! I can only pray that he will be able to handle the pain and all that comes with it. I'm asking for God's help through all of this.

I'm so excited that tomorrow is Halloween! I'll be back soon with some precious pictures of our sweet little man and here is a little sneak peak!

You didn't know we had a new little puppy did you?

Thankful Thursday

I really have so much to be thankful for. My blessings are many and I am so grateful and very undeserving!


I'm thankful for the men in my life: my husband and sweet baby Collier.
I'm extra thankful for the days and that I've had with Collier in the past week (as I am job searching)

I'm thankful for precious and loving friends.

I'm thankful that my God is a just and merciful God who continues to love and provide even when I'm not 100% reliant on Him. Even when I think that I am in control, that He is still steady walking with me and that He is willing to take the drivers seat to get me back on course even after I've completely gotten lost!

I'm very thankful for the beautiful sunshine that is shinning bright right now!

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture!
Psalm 100:1-4

Beautiful

I know that I've complained a bit about all of the rain lately...and we've had a ton of it! So this week has been amazing, beautiful, cooler, sunny, perfect and did I mention beautiful? Today has been the best of all. The sun is shining bright but there is a wonderful cool breeze and I am loving every minute of it. I have all of my doors and windows open enjoying the fresh air flow through our house! My sweet little man is sleeping and the house it totally quite. Its so peaceful and relaxing.

I have sweet potatoes in the oven, boiling pea's and steaming apples....all for Collier. He is going to try pea's for the first time this weekend! He is doing really well with eating. He loves apple sauce every morning. And so far likes sweet potatoes and squash the best. He tolerates green beans but doesn't like them quite as much. I'm sure he'll be thrilled to know that we ran out last night. Moving on to pea's now.

I started this post at around noon today and am just now getting back in front of the computer to actually post. Collier and I are so glad to have Justin/Daddy back home - he was out two nights this week and we missed him a ton! Looking forward to more beautiful weather this weekend (except tomorrow its supposed to pour...yes MORE rain and I'll be all soggy again and will be thrilled when I can see the sun again on Saturday)

Here are a few pictures from the past few days. I put Collier back in his Baptism outfit to take some pictures of him - we didn't get a chance to do that since there was so much going on that weekend. These are from the past few days...enjoy! He is starting to sit up on his own!!! AND he is getting good at putting passey
back in all by himself! Mommy and really glad about that. Not 100% yet
but getting good at it.

snuggling with Brinkley

Baby Music

This is music to my ears. Daddy is obviously very funny....

Who knew?

I think that I've mentioned before that I am making Collier's food. It has been fun and it is a bit time consuming, but I do enjoy it and it is very easy. Cook, process, freeze...

So far he has enjoyed apple sauce and sweet potatoes. Yummy! This week I decided we would try green beans. So, last night I got home and went straight to the kitchen to get our dinner ready as well as Collier's dinner ready (he was just having sweet potatoes, but I did want to go ahead and get the green beans done). So, I put together spinach lasagna for Justin, mom and me and put it in the oven. I then cleaned, cut and steamed the green beans. My plan was to process the beans after we were done eating and after Collier had gone to sleep for the night.

Turned out that Collier was very tired and fighting it all at the same time, which resulted in about a 30 minute crying screaming fest. In the middle of all of that the lasagna was ready and I hated for it to get cold, so mom and Justin went ahead and fixed their salads and then Justin and I switched Collier so that I could eat my salad. Of course, Justin's shoulder seemed to do the trick and he finally settled down and was out cold. I was finishing my salad and Justin and mom came in with their dinner plates. Justin's plate piled high with Lasagna and green beans! I just chuckled.... Poor man, loves beans and I am not a bean person. The only beans that I do eat are green beans and Justin just loves every kind of bean/pea but since I don't eat them we normally do have them. He was so excited to be getting some beans that he didn't find it the least bit strange that I was serving green beans with lasagna. Who does that? Mom on the other hand thought it was strange, but just decided that we must be really increasing our vegetable servings...spinach lasagna, green beans, salad....she of course was to polite to ask until I told them they were for Collier. Justin just wondered why I didn't season them!

All of that to say, that I usually boil my green beans - I've even done them in the oven with Italian dressing. But never have I steamed them and it turns out they are pretty good steamed and of course seasoned with a little salt and pepper. So, tonight it was chicken and steamed green beans for us! I did finally get Collier's beans made and he will be tasting them for the first time this weekend. If his taste buds are anything like his dad's....he'll love them! And now, we have a new cooking method for our green beans.

I have finally had a free moment to sit and get these pictures on the computer! Enjoy!